Elvira Dyangani Ose, former MACBA director, will take over as artistic director at Zeitz Mocaa in Cape Town this October. Her appointment follows her departure from Barcelona amid a conflict of roles.
Elvira Dyangani Ose, who stepped down as director of MACBA in Barcelona earlier this year, has been named the new artistic director of Zeitz Mocaa in Cape Town. The South African museum confirmed her appointment will take effect from October 1, marking a significant leadership change for one of Africa’s most prominent contemporary art institutions.
Dyangani Ose’s move comes after the MACBA consortium ruled her position incompatible with her new role as head of the second Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial, also scheduled for October. This decision prompted her resignation from MACBA, where she had served since 2021, becoming both the first woman and the first person of color to lead the museum.
Zeitz Mocaa highlighted Dyangani Ose’s international experience and her commitment to African and diaspora artists as key factors in her selection. The museum, approaching its tenth anniversary, described her arrival as the start of an “exciting new chapter” and reaffirmed its mission to promote contemporary African art and foster artistic exchange.
Originally from Córdoba with roots in Equatorial Guinea, Dyangani Ose studied at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona and Cornell University in New York. Her career includes roles at the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno in Las Palmas, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo in Seville, and the Tate Modern in London. She also curated the 2014 Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art and directed The Showroom gallery in London from 2018.
During her tenure at MACBA, Dyangani Ose sought to challenge the museum’s traditional structure, aiming to make it more inclusive and open. Her leadership was seen as a turning point for the institution, which has long been a reference point for contemporary art in Spain. The transition to Zeitz Mocaa is expected to further strengthen ties between European and African art communities.
Zeitz Mocaa, located in a converted grain silo on Cape Town’s waterfront, has become a major platform for African artists since its opening. The museum’s focus on contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora has attracted international attention, and Dyangani Ose’s appointment is likely to reinforce its global profile. Her experience across leading European and African institutions positions her to navigate the complexities of the international art world while maintaining a strong regional focus.
Leadership changes at major art institutions often signal shifts in curatorial direction and institutional priorities. In this case, Dyangani Ose’s background and vision may influence not only Zeitz Mocaa’s programming but also broader conversations about representation and diversity in the art world. As the museum prepares for its anniversary, her arrival is seen as both a continuation and a renewal of its founding mission.
